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Samsung patents air conditioner that seals off leaks to save refrigerant

This filing describes an air conditioning system equipped with a sensor that detects when refrigerant is leaking from the pipes. When a leak is found, the system automatically closes valves and reverses the flow to pull the escaping gas back into the indoor unit, preventing it from escaping into the air.

Why it mattersThis is interesting because it offers a way to reduce waste and environmental impact by catching refrigerant leaks before they are lost, which is a common issue in traditional AC systems.

In the filing’s own words

A control method for detecting refrigerant leakage occurring in an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor expansion valve, and a four-way valve; an indoor unit installed indoors and including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor expansion valve; a liquid pipe that connects the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to each other and through which a liquefied refrigerant flows; a gas pipe that connects the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to each other and through which a gaseous refrigerant flows; a shutoff device including a first shutoff valve for the liquid pipe and a second shutoff valve for the gas pipe; a leakage sensor; and a control unit that controls the operation of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit or controls the opening and closing of the first shutoff valve and the second shutoff valve.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An air conditioner, comprising: an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor expansion valve, and a four-way valve; an indoor unit, to be installed indoors, including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor expansion valve; a liquid pipe, connectable to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, formed to allow a refrigerant in a liquid state to flow therethrough; a gas pipe, connectable to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and formed to allow the refrigerant in a gaseous state to flow therethrough; a shutoff device including a first shutoff valve opening and closing the liquid pipe and a second shutoff valve opening and closing the gas pipe; a leakage sensor configured to detect whether a refrigerant leakage occurs; and a controller, configured to control driving of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, or to control opening and closing of the first shutoff valve and the second shutoff valve, wherein the controller, based on the leakage sensor detecting the refrigerant leakage is occurring in a predetermined section, is configured to: close the first shutoff valve, control the four-way valve to operate a circulation direction of the refrigerant in a heating operation, operate the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger and condense at least a portion of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor unit, the liquid pipe, and the gas pipe, recover the condensed refrigerant to the indoor unit and the liquid pipe, and close the second shutoff valve based on satisfying a preset condition.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
AIR CONDITIONER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Publication number
US20260266490A1
Application number
19664382
Filed
Apr 30, 2026
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
15

Classified under

F24F 11/36 Mechanical engineeringF24F 11/84 Mechanical engineering
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.